“Words” and “actions” of environmental policy and their effects on regional green development: an empirical research based on China’s 88 cities

Green Development is distinguished by its beneficial externalities. Conceptually, the public’s response to policies related to Green Development can be channeled through two primary mechanisms: anticipatory guidance and practical regulation. While numerous studies have examined the tangible impacts of environmental policies, a comparative analysis of these distinct transmission mechanisms remains largely unexplored. This paper undertakes a multifaceted analysis by utilizing the STIRPAT model. It examines the impact mechanisms, heterogeneous characteristics, and the degree of alignment between government “words” and “actions” in the realm of environmental protection. This analysis is based on the computation of a comprehensive evaluation index for Green Development across 88 cities within 10 representative urban agglomerations in China. Our findings indicate, firstly, that both the rhetoric and actions of local governments in environmental protection significantly contribute to regional green development. Secondly, the practical effects of these “words and actions” exhibit a pronounced threshold effect in the context of environmental policies. Thirdly, the degree of consistency between the government’s rhetoric and actions displays a varied impact on Green Development. Consequently, to effectively foster regional Green Development, it is imperative to concurrently focus on both the rhetoric and actions of governments, as well as their congruence. This approach should aim to harmonize anticipatory guidance with practical regulation. Moreover, it is essential to formulate region-specific strategies that are tailored to the local financial environment and the operational capacities of governments.